![]() Brisbane starter Ryan Bollinger worked eight one-run innings (C) SMP IMAGES/ABL MEDIA
|
Brisbane is one win away from a fourth-straight ABL Championship Series after burying Canberra with relentless offence and strong pitching at OneHub Stadium powered by Optus on Friday night.
The Bandits struck early and often, powering past the Cavalry 18-1 to take the upperhand in their best-of-three ABL Semi-Final presented by Boral.
Brisbane took the lead in the bottom of the second on back-to-back homers from David Sutherland and Danny De La Calle and never looked back.
QUICK LINKS: BOX SCORE | GAME LOG | WATCH REPLAY | SCHEDULE
Canberra starter Kyle Kinman gave up a lead-off single to Wade Dutton ahead of Sutherland and De Le Calle striking as the Bandits racked up five hits for the inning.
Kinman was replaced by Steven Chambers to start the third but it did little to stop Brisbane.
Wade Dutton went deep to make it 4-0 ahead of an RBI-single from Andrew Campbell and two-run homer from Logan Wade in the fourth.
Boss Moanaroa's solo shot in the top of the fifth gave the Cavalry a glimmer of hope.
But it was quickly erased as Dutton went yard for his second homer - and the Bandits' fifth - of the night in the bottom of the fifth.
Brisbane starter Ryan Bollinger showed tremendous control on the mound.
The left-hander worked eight innings, striking out five and allowing just the one run on four hits.
He worked five 1-2-3 innings and threw 86 pitches before Justin Erasmus worked the ninth.
Donald Lutz's third ABL postseason home run ignited a five-run seventh for the Bandits.
Brisbane matched its own ABL postseason record of seven home runs in a game when Riley Unroe capped off the big inning.
The Bandits aded five more in the eighth to make it 18-1, eclipsing their own mark for the biggest margin of victory in a playoff game.
Unroe went 5-for-5 with three RBI, while Wade had four RBI.
Canberra will look to keep the series alive tomorrow night.
First pitch is a 6pm (local time) with all the action live and free on ABLtv.com
ABL Headlines
- SEASON IN REVIEW: Brisbane Bandits
- SEASON IN REVIEW: Perth Heat
- SEASON IN REVIEW: Sydney Blue Sox
- SEASON IN REVIEW: Canberra Cavalry
- SEASON IN REVIEW: Melbourne Aces
- SEASON IN REVIEW: Adelaide Bite
- SEASON IN REVIEW: Auckland Tuatara
- Players' Choice Team of the Year
- SEASON IN REVIEW: Geelong-Korea
- Bandits claim fourth-straight ABL title
MLB Headlines
- Machado to Padres on record deal, sources say
- What does Machado deal mean for Harper?
- Machado in '19, '20, '21 ... projecting star's future
- Dodgers legend Don Newcombe dies at 92
- Biggest free-agent contracts in MLB history
- Analyzing every big offseason move (thus far)
- It's Hot Stove season, and MLB.com is keeping track of all the latest free agent and trade rumors right here.
- Most shocking free-agent decisions in MLB history
- With Manny off market, Phils' focus on Harper
- Lifting off: Healthy Judge puts foes on notice